Paul Simon sells his entire catalogue to Sony

Paul Simon has cashed in his legacy by selling the publishing rights to his entire back catalogue to Sony Music Publishing.

Paul Simon performs on stage at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Barakaldo, Spain, in 2016. Picture: AFP

Paul Simon long ago ceased to be “a poor boy” like the protagonist of his 1965 hit The Boxer but he is now even richer after surrendering ownership of his life’s work.

At 79 he has cashed in his legacy by selling the publishing rights to his entire back catalogue to Sony Music Publishing.

Although the terms of the deal have not been disclosed, Simon is likely to have earned a similar sum to the $US300m Bob Dylan is thought to have ­received from Universal last year for his back catalogue.

Like Dylan, Simon is a rare example of an artist who enjoyed great success in the 1960s then continued to evolve.

His breakthrough came with his childhood friend Art ­Garfunkel in the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel. Their hits included The Sound of Silence, Mrs ­Robinson and Bridge Over Troubled Water but they ­became almost as well known for their toxic relationship.

As a solo artist Simon included reggae on his 1972 hit Mother and Child Reunion and South African music on his 1986 album Graceland.

In his sixties he made an album with the experimental musician Brian Eno.

Simon last released an album in 2018, the year he retired from touring. He has not ruled out one-off gigs.

Jon Platt, the chief executive of Sony Music Publishing, said Simon was “a masterful, once-in-a-lifetime songwriter”.

The Times